The KC in sheep's clothing...

It's been a huge few days in doggie history.
First we had the feisty withdrawal of the RSPCA from Crufts, all I can say is that the post-documentary talks between the KC and the RSPCA at Clarges Street obviously didn't go very well! I'd say Mark Evans was more sure than ever that things have to change.
The RSPCA announcement re-ignited the media and then the public.
Even a simple appointment to get a repeat prescription at the doctors turned into marathon. My doctor, who isn't doggie, had chanced on the documentary and had been gripped by it. So had many of her patients. She said she'd never known a programme be so talked about for so long after transmission.
As I wrote in the Times yesterday, it won't be long before other charities follow the RSPCA. Then yesterday we got the press release saying that Dogs Trust were pulling out of Crufts, Discover Dogs and even the MP's dog show Westminster Dog of the Year which was always co-organised with the KC.
Then it seemed like moments later the phones started ringing and we had news of the Kennel Club making a surprisingly radical move.
If you were hoping it was to accept all the failings and to start putting everything right you'll be disappointed.
No, the KC had decided to shoot the messenger.
They'd put in a complaint to Ofcom that the documentary was unfair. And, the note on their website said they were also reviewing their contract with the BBC to televise Crufts.
So with rumours rife of the BBC requiring significant reforms before the televising could go forward next year, was this a pre-emptive strike? (Like a 13-year-old girl dumping a boyfriend because they'd heard gossip that he was about to chuck them anyway?)
So what will be next in the week of change?
Watch this space - have rewritten whole chunks of the next magazine in the last few hours.
I probably should get more sleep, but I was daydreaming that trying to get the stubborn old KC to reform is a bit like another old favourite favourite BBC TV prog - One Man and his Dog.
We can all see the pen quite clearly (reform) - it's the obvious place for the sheep to go, we've got loads of very able people directing the sheepdog as to where the pen is - vets, scientists, welfare organisations, anyone with a brain etc.
The sheepdog (in my strained analogy) is at the moment the media.
Okay, you've probably already guessed it, the sheep are the KC.
But right now, the sheep just won't even look at that pen and have decided the very best plan is obviously to attack the sheepdog.
But it's not just one little sheepdog (ie Dogs Today) it's the worldwide bleeding media that's shouting, "Get in that pen you silly sheep!"
Obviously very few sheepdogs can actually speak, but you get my drift!
(Well there's actually some that can - the clever lady with the Rodlinglea Scruffies bred a super brainy strain that could ask for water and liver and stuff and say hello - I saw the videos... okay, you're right - time for a nap....!)

Please don't forget the petition:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ReformtheKC/

Near to 300 now, please do keep spreading the word!

POSTSCRIPT:
I wonder has anyone at the KC considered what happens if (when?) Ofcom rule they haven't got a case? How devastating will that be for them? Isn't it better to admit the problems and start putting them right without further delay?
Here's a passage from the story on the BBC website...

A spokesman for BBC Documentaries said it stood by the programme's content.

In a separate statement, the corporation said it was "seeking reassurance, on behalf of its viewers, that the objectives, practices and organisation of the breed competitions at Crufts have as a first priority the health and welfare of all dogs taking part in the competition".

An advisory panel would be set up to consider "what measures the Kennel Club should be expected to take now and commit to in the future".

It added: "The panel will be asked to give the BBC their advice quickly to enable the BBC to discuss the issues with the Kennel Club before planning begins for coverage of Crufts 2009."

Crufts has been transmitted on BBC Two since 1966.

Kennel Club spokeswoman Caroline Kisko told the BBC it was not "a tenable position" for the broadcaster to show Crufts - a programme "celebrating dogs" - when it had also aired a documentary "which was clearly so heavily biased against dogs".

"All of those dogs that were shown on the programme were taken to be to do with the Kennel Club," she said.

"The message put across by the programme was that all their disabilities, their illnesses, were caused by something which the Kennel Club had done, to the point where we were likened to Nazis."

Ms Kisko said the Kennel Club had recognised that "things had gone too far" with some breeds several years ago and was making efforts to address their health issues.But she added: "The fact of the matter is that the large majority of pedigree dogs in the country are healthy."

Hmm, not normally a betting woman but my money's on the BBC winning this one.